Jötun Grunt MTG Card

Jötun Grunt excels in graveyard control, slowing down opponents’ strategies and pacing the game. Its board presence is maintained economically by a cumulative upkeep instead of additional card costs. Strategic instant-speed plays can be enhanced by the Grunt’s upkeep ability for tactical advantage.

Coldsnap (CSP)
2006-07-21 - Number 8

Jötun Grunt - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)

Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
2010-11-08 - Number B5

Commander 2011 (CMD)
2011-06-17 - Number 16

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number CSP-8

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant Soldier
Abilities	Cumulative upkeep
Power	4
Toughness	4

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep— Put two cards in a single graveyard on the bottom of their owner's library. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

Cards like Jötun Grunt

Jötun Grunt occupies a unique role as a graveyard interaction creature in MTG. It bears resemblance to cards like Nihil Spellbomb and Tormod’s Crypt for its graveyard removal capability. Jötun Grunt, unlike the aforementioned artifacts, offers a body on the battlefield as it sweeps away cards from the graveyard, contributing to both board presence and graveyard control.

Comparing Jötun Grunt to other creatures, such as Scavenging Ooze, highlights different strategic uses. While Scavenging Ooze selectively exiles cards and gains strength, Jötun Grunt clears graveyards at a quicker pace but requires careful management due to its cumulative upkeep. Another comparable card is Relic of Progenitus, which offers a continuous graveyard exile option, but does not provide the player with a creature.

The balance between providing a strong creature and graveyard management shows Jötun Grunt’s versatility. Though it requires a more nuanced approach to play effectively, its potential to disrupt opponents’ strategies is formidable, especially in games where graveyards are a resource. Hence, when evaluating cards for graveyard control with the added benefit of a creature, Jötun Grunt certainly contends with the best of them.

Cards similar to Jötun Grunt by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jötun Grunt presents an opportunity to repeatedly manage the number of cards in opponent graveyards, indirectly affecting the game’s pace and potential graveyard strategies.

Resource Acceleration: With its cumulative upkeep cost, it may seem counterproductive at first glance. However, the Grunt can help maintain board presence without investing further cards from your hand, conserving your resources in the long run.

Instant Speed: While Jötun Grunt itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its unique upkeep ability can be used in a way that complements instant-speed plays. It allows for strategic planning during each upkeep, ensuring you’re maximizing your resources every turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jötun Grunt necessitates that you put two cards from a graveyard on the bottom of their owners’ libraries during your upkeep. This can be a hefty price, particularly in games where graveyards aren’t well-stocked, leaving you at a loss as your Grunt heads to the graveyard itself.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement of one white and one other, the Grunt can be a tricky fit in multicolored decks that may not consistently produce the needed white mana, thus affecting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana may not seem steep, it is high for a creature that may have no impact if unable to fulfill its upkeep. Considering the rate at which some cards operate, there are alternatives that might provide more immediate and guaranteed value.

Reasons to Include Jötun Grunt in Your Collection

Versatility: Jötun Grunt is not your average creature card. Its ability to recycle cards from graveyards into libraries means it can fit into decks that aim to manage graveyard strategies or require a robust defensive unit on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: With Jötun Grunt, the synergy with cards that benefit from graveyard manipulation is significant. It can disrupt opponent strategies while feeding your own graveyard-based combos, making it a subtle yet powerful addition to various deck builds.

Meta-Relevance: As graveyard-focused decks become prevalent, having Jötun Grunt in your arsenal is essential. Its presence on the board can be a game-changer against decks that rely heavily on graveyard resources and could shape your games in the ongoing competitive scene.

How to beat

Jötun Grunt presents an intriguing challenge on the battlefield with its cumulative upkeep ability that can quickly scale out of control. When facing this card, strategic graveyard management becomes key. Unlike spells that rely on graveyard resources as fuel, such as Life from the Loam or Snapcaster Mage, Jötun Grunt’s upkeep requires a steady stream of cards to return from the graveyard to the library.

For players against Jötun Grunt, the most straightforward counteraction is to limit the number of cards in the graveyard. Tools like Relic of Progenitus, which can be activated to exile a player’s graveyard, or Tormod’s Crypt, offering a no-cost solution, can significantly hinder Jötun Grunt’s effectiveness. Another method involves deploying instant speed removal when the opponent attempts to fulfill the cumulative upkeep, effectively rendering the sacrifice futile. Cards like Swords to Plowshares provide an efficient way to deal with Jötun Grunt before it becomes an insurmountable threat.

In essence, by carefully controlling graveyard populations and timing removal, Jötun Grunt’s potential impact can be mitigated, preserving the integrity of your game plan and keeping you one step ahead of this formidable adversary.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jötun Grunt MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Magic Online Theme Decks, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Jötun Grunt and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jötun Grunt Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2011-06-17. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2006-07-21	Coldsnap	CSP	8	2003	Normal	Black	Franz Vohwinkel
2	2010-11-08	Magic Online Theme Decks	TD0	B5	2003	Normal	Black	Franz Vohwinkel
3	2011-06-17	Commander 2011	CMD	16	2003	Normal	Black	Franz Vohwinkel
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	CSP-8	2003	Normal	Black	Franz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jötun Grunt has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jötun Grunt card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2006-07-15	When paying Jötun Grunt’s cumulative upkeep, you may choose a different graveyard for each age counter. For example, if it has three age counters on it, you may put four cards from your graveyard on the bottom of your library and two cards from your opponent’s graveyard on the bottom of their library. However, you can’t put five cards from your graveyard on the bottom of your library and one card from your opponent’s graveyard on the bottom of their library.